Page 5 of Skate the Line

Three

SUNNY

The mood is set.

The ambience is giving vibes, and although I feel every bit of crazy, I’m here for it.

Shuffling cards fill the empty space between me and a woman who looks like she could double as a Harry Potter character. The smell of lavender is overpowering enough to mix in with the salty air of the ocean just outside the purple curtains.

“I’m feeling sunshine from you,” Celeste muses.

She has a little twinkle in her eye that I’m pretty sure I’m just imagining.

“Well, my name is Allison, but I go by Sunny.” I smile, and she mirrors me.

“That makes sense.”

She shuffles some more cards and takes a deep breath while closing her eyes. Purple eyeshadow shimmers underneath the filtered sunlight from above, and when she opens her eyes again, she starts pulling cards left and right.

My phone vibrates, but I ignore it. Instead, I stare at Celeste’s long maroon fingernails filtering through the tarot cards falling from her hands.

“Ah,” she singsongs.

I scan the cards she's straightening in between us.

I have no idea what they mean. Up until about twenty minutes ago, I didn’t even believe in this sort of thing.

But if the universe could give me a sign,one single sign,to direct me on the right path, I’ll believe anything at this point.

“You’ve pulled quite a lot of cards, Allison.”

I wish she wouldn’t call me that.

“Is that bad?” I ask.

“You’re the only one who can decide that.”

That’s not an answer. That’s a riddle. And to be honest, I don’t appreciate it.

Celeste taps her fingers on the table before landing on the card with a sun in the center surrounded by light blues and grassy lands.

“This is very fitting. You are a light, meaning you attract goodness. You have beauty inside of you, and you’re willing to spread that around to others. I sense that you’ll attract success going forward. Your energy attracts good people.”

“Not always,” I mutter.

Celeste doesn’t pry. She circles the next card and stares at me from across the table. My phone vibrates again, and we both look at it.

I see three texts from Ruby, all of which are facts about Chicago.

She’s been sending me facts for two days now.

Chicago has the second-largest public transportation system. It has more than 450 million bus and train rides, meaning you won’t even need a car!

Chicago has more than 60 art museums! Right up your alley.

Chicago is home to one of the best art schools in the country—you could go back to school!

“This one”—the tapping of Celeste’s fingernail pulls me back to her reading—“is called The Fool.”

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